Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)

Ottawa, CA 🇨🇦 Large International Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

CYOW

IATA

YOW

Elevation

374 ft

Region

CA-ON

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: CYOW

Local Code: YOW

Location: 45.322498° N, -75.669197° E

Continent: NA

Type: Large International Airport

Keywords: Uplands UUP CUUP

Arrivals

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Departures

View outgoing flights

External Links

Official Website Wikipedia Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

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What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) generally receives positive traveler sentiment, with many appreciating its efficiency and modern, clean environment. The airport has seen significant growth in passenger volume and air service recently, with plans for continued enhancements to facilities and connectivity.

What Travelers Love

Cleanliness and Modern Facilities: Travelers consistently praise the airport for being extremely clean and well-maintained, featuring modern architecture and an inviting atmosphere.
Efficient Processes: Passengers often report quick check-in, security, and immigration/customs experiences, especially when returning to Canada. This contributes to an overall smooth and pleasant travel experience.
Growing Air Service and Connectivity: YOW is expanding its direct flight options, with increased capacity from airlines like Porter Airlines (now a major hub) and the reinstatement/upgrade of international routes such as Air France to Paris and Air Canada to London Heathrow.
Good Transportation Links: The airport is well-connected to the city via OC Transpo buses and the LRT (light rail transit), with the Airport Station now integrated. On-site and off-site parking options with efficient shuttle services (e.g., Park'N Fly, Routes Airport Parking) are also well-regarded.

Common Complaints

Limited Amenities in US Departures: A frequent point of dissatisfaction is the lack of an airport lounge and limited dining options in the US departures area, though a new restaurant is under construction and expected to open in early 2025.
Security Screening Officer Conduct: Some travelers have reported instances of unprofessional, rude, or invasive behavior from security screening officers during body and bag searches.
Subpar Pet Relief Areas: There are mentions that pet relief areas could be significantly improved with better amenities.

Overall, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is often seen as a convenient and efficient airport, particularly for domestic and transborder travel, with ongoing developments aimed at enhancing the passenger experience. While improvements are desired in specific areas like US departures amenities and consistency in security interactions, its ease of use and cleanliness are strong advantages.

Generated False weeks ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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Airport Routes

Top Routes (by observations)

Newly Discovered

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Popular Flight Routes

Building Route Index: We are building our route index for commercial airports. Currently 66 routes are indexed for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. For real-time updates, admin access is required.

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Destination	IATA	City	Aircraft Type	Airline	Details	Route Map
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Top Airlines

Operating at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

Airlines by Flight Activity

Based on observed flight operations and route network

Airline	Routes	Flights	Destinations	Last Activity
Porter Airlines `POE` / `PD`	17	132	17	Dec 9, 2025
Air Canada `ACA` / `AC`	5	56	5	Nov 20, 2025
WestJet `WJA` / `WS`	5	53	5	Oct 20, 2025
Jazz `JZA` / `QK`	6	37	6	Oct 20, 2025
Republic `RPA` / `YX`	2	22	2	Sep 5, 2025
PAL Airlines `PVL` / `PB`	1	14	1	Sep 5, 2025
GoJet `GJS` / `G7`	3	14	3	Oct 20, 2025
Canadian North `AKT` / `5T`	1	8	1	Sep 5, 2025
Chartright Air `HRT`	4	6	4	Sep 5, 2025

Showing top 9 airlines by flight activity. Data includes observed departures and route networks from this airport.

For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`04/22`	3300 ft	75 ft	ASP	Active
`07/25`	8000 ft	200 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`14/32`	10000 ft	200 ft	ASP	Active Lighted

Type	Description	Frequency
ARR	Ottawa Arrivals	`135.15 MHz`
ATIS	English ATIS	`121.15 MHz`
ATIS	French ATIS	`132.95 MHz`
CLNC DEL	Ottawa Clearance	`119.4 MHz`
DEP	Ottawa Departures	`128.175 MHz`
GND	Ottawa Ground	`121.9 MHz`
RCO	Quebec Radio	`123.15 MHz`
TML	Ottawa Terminal	`127.7 MHz`
TWR	Ottawa Tower	`118.8 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency
`IOW`	Ottawa	DME	`109500 kHz`
`OW`	Ottawa	NDB	`236 kHz`
`YOW`	Ottawa	VOR-DME	`114600 kHz`
`YRR`	Greely	NDB	`377 kHz`

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Taxis

Airport-licensed taxis are available 24/7 on Level 1 (Arrivals) outside the centre door. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft also operate from the airport with designated pickup zones on the outer curb of Level 1.

Rental Cars

Car rental counters are located in the Parkade (P1), directly across the street from the terminal building. On-site companies include Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National/Alamo. Vehicles are picked up and returned at this location.

Public Transportation

OC Transpo provides public bus service. Route 97 offers frequent service from the airport to downtown Ottawa and connects to the O-Train's Confederation Line at Hurdman Station. The bus stop is on Level 1 (Arrivals) at pillar 14. Fares can be paid with a PRESTO card, credit/debit card tap, or exact cash.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.